Bottom Line:

Believe it or not, many of us spend 3 hours or more per day on our smartphones. And that is looking down at your phone, not on the phone talking to someone. That makes a difference. This brings your total time per year over 1,000 hours. 

 

The positions we’re holding our heads in during those 1,000 hours are not the best, and quite frankly, damaging. These positions can be damaging to your spine, muscles, joints, and even turn into headaches.  

 

It’s not surprising that over the past few years, an uptick of these awkward positions has led to an uptick in head and neck pain. 

Why it Matters:

It's estimated that tilting your head forward, even just 15 degrees, can triple the weight of your head on your neck. Increasing that tilt to 60 degrees can cause the stress on the backside of your neck up to 10 times! 

 

Being in this compromised position for hours on end can cause pain, stiffness, dysfunction, headaches. This combination has become known as “Tech Neck” over the past couple years when electronic use has become a larger part of our daily lives. 

 

The good news about “Tech Neck” and the symptoms that come with it is that they can often times be eliminated by a few simple changes to your daily routine and a little awareness. 

 

Here are a few highlights to keep in mind:  

 

·   “Tech Neck” is the term used to describe the flexed head and neck position that occurs when looking down at your smartphone or tablet. This can even happen from working on your computer while it rests on your lap! 

 

·   It only takes 15 degrees of forward head flexion to increase the stress 3 times.  

·   Taking breaks from your phone every 15 minutes and stretching your neck can help relieve stress and decrease pain. 

Next Steps: 

 

Reducing your “Tech Neck” symptoms involves more than just changing the angle you look at your phone. 

 

Proper ergonomics, regular stretching and exercise all play significant roles in helping you continue to enjoy your favorite devices without those nagging pains. Because well, we all know you’re not going to stop scrolling through Instagram. 

 

If you (or someone you know) have been having neck pain, and it sounds similar to “Tech Neck”, you’ve come to the right place! 

 

Dr. Sealey is ready to not only help evaluate your posture and movement, but to also provide a plan of action complete with personalized recommendations that will help make it easy for you to maintain a more balanced posture for years to come.

Dalton Sealey DC, CSCS

ProMove Chiropractic & Performance

402.915.4901

drsealey@promovechiropractic.com

Science Source(s): 

"Tech Neck" Taking a Toll on Posture. Columbia Spine. 2018.